Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight

In the 17th century when Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protector of England, a young soldier named Basil Underwood was tried in military court and sentenced to death. His fiancée pled with Cromwell for her lover's life, but to no avail. The execution was set to take place at the “ringing of the curfew bell.” However, at the set time the bell did not sound. The soldier’s fiancée had climbed into the bell tower. She clung to the bell’s clapper to prevent it from sounding. Cromwell's soldiers investigated and found the young woman cut and bleeding from being knocked back and forth against the great bell. When summoned by Cromwell to account for her actions, she wept as she showed him her bruised and bleeding hands. Cromwell’s heart was touched with sudden pity and his eyes lit with misty light. He replied to the young lady, “Your lover shall live. Curfew shall not ring tonight!”


The poetess Rose Alnora Hartwick Thorpe (1850-1939) immortalized the story when she was only 16 years old, writing “Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight.”

Slowly England's sun was setting o’er the hilltops far away,
Filling all the land with beauty at the close of one sad day;
And its last rays kissed the forehead of a man and maiden fair,--
He with steps so slow and weary; she with sunny, floating hair;
He with bowed head, sad and thoughtful, she, with lips all cold and white,
Struggling to keep back the murmur, "Curfew must not ring to-night!"

"Sexton," Bessie's white lips faltered, pointing to the prison old,
With its walls tall and gloomy, moss-grown walls dark, damp and cold,--
"I've a lover in the prison, doomed this very night to die
At the ringing of the curfew, and no earthly help is nigh.
Cromwell will not come till sunset;" and her lips grew strangely white,
As she spoke in husky whispers, "Curfew must not ring to-night!"

"Bessie," calmly spoke the sexton (every word pierced her young heart
Like a gleaming death-winged arrow, like a deadly poisoned dart),
"Long, long years I've rung the curfew from that gloomy, shadowed tower;
Every evening, just at sunset, it has tolled the twilight hour.
I have done my duty ever, tried to do it just and right:
Now I'm old, I will not miss it. Curfew bell must ring to-night!"

Wild her eyes and pale her features, stern and white her thoughtful brow,
As within her secret bosom, Bessie made a solemn vow.
She had listened while the judges read, without a tear or sigh,
"At the ringing of the curfew, Basil Underwood must "die.
And her breath came fast and faster, and her eyes grew large and bright;
One low murmur, faintly spoken. "Curfew must not ring to-night!"

She with quick step bounded forward, sprang within the old church-door,
Left the old man coming slowly, paths he'd trod so oft before.
Not one moment paused the maiden, but with eye and cheek aglow,
Staggered up the gloomy tower, where the bell swung to and fro;
As she climbed the slimy ladder, on which fell no ray of light,
Upward still, her pale lips saying, "Curfew shall not ring to-night!"

She has reached the topmost ladder, o'er her hangs the great dark bell;
Awful is the gloom beneath her, like the pathway down to hell.
See! the ponderous tongue is swinging; 'tis the hour of curfew now,
And the sight has chilled her bosom, stopped her breath, and paled her brow.
Shall she let it ring? No, never! Her eyes flash with sudden light,
As she springs, and grasps it firmly: "Curfew shall not ring to-night!"

(Clinging to the ponderous tongue, Bessie muffled its sound with her hands as she hung suspended beneath the bell swinging to and fro.)

Out she swung,-- far out. The city seemed a speck of light below,--
There twixt heaven and earth suspended, as the bell swung to and fro.
And the sexton at the bell-rope, old and deaf, heard not the bell,
Sadly thought that twilight curfew rang young Basil's funeral knell.
"Still the maiden, clinging firmly, quivering lip and fair face white,
Stilled her frightened heart's wild throbbing: "Curfew shall not ring tonight!"

It was o'er, the bell ceased swaying; and the maiden stepped once more
Firmly on the damp old ladder, where, for hundred years before,
Human foot had not been planted. The brave deed that she had done
Should be told long ages after. As the rays of setting sun
Light the sky with golden beauty, aged sires, with heads of white,
Tell the children why the curfew did not ring that one sad night.

O'er the distant hills comes Cromwell. Bessie sees him; and her brow,
Lately white with sickening horror, has no anxious traces now.
At his feet she tells her story, shows her hands, all bruised and torn;
And her sweet young face, still haggard, with the anguish it had worn,
Touched his heart with sudden pity, lit his eyes with misty light.
"Go! your lover lives," said Cromwell. "Curfew shall not ring to-night!"

Wide they flung the massive portals, led the prisoner forth to die,
All his bright young life before him. Neath the darkening English sky,
Bessie came, with flying footsteps, eyes aglow with love-light sweet;
Kneeling on the turf beside him, laid his pardon at his feet.
In his brave, strong arms he clasped her, kissed the face upturned and white,
Whispered, "Darling, you have saved me, curfew will not ring to-night."

Thorpe's poem derives from Lydia Sigourney's story "Love and Loyalty", which appeared in Peterson's Magazine in September, 1865. Albert Smith's earlier 1842 play, Blanche Heriot, or The Chertsey Curfew, is a quite similar story but with different characters.

Get plenty of rest

I try to not miss a chance to complain, at least once in the year, about the obligatory government-ordained clock changing ritual. So here goes.

Everybody get plenty of rest in the days leading up to this weekend. On Sunday morning at 2:00 a.m. you'll need to get up and run your clock forward one hour. Since you'll be losing an hour of sleep, try to make it up elsewhere.

Music quotes, the devil's tunes

Did John Wesley ask, "Why should the devil have all the best tunes?" That, or "the devil has no right to all the good tunes" has been variously credited to John Wesley, George Whitfield, Charles Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, Martin Luther, William Booth, and who knows who else. In a sermon at Surrey Chapel in London in 1844, Rowland Hill is said, "The devil should not have all the best tunes."

Regardless, a Baptist writing in 1867 thought one of the Wesleys said it, and agreed to a certain extent. Yet he thought there were plenty of tunes that ought to be left with him! (The devil, not Wesley.)

"With Wesley, we do not see why the devil should have all the best, but we must say many tunes have crept in to worshipping assemblies and Christian families, which ought to have been restricted to him and his." -- The Voice of Truth; or, Baptist Record, January 1867, p. 17

12 reasons for the Church Before Pentecost

12 reasons I believe that there was a church in existence before the day of Pentecost

These reasons may seem fairly simplistic, but it doesn't take too much to satisfy a simple mind like mine!*

1. The church is referred to before Pentecost, both by the word "church" (Matt. 16:18; 18:17) and by its figurative names - flock, bride, house, etc. (Luke 12:32, cf. I Pet. 5:2; John 3:29, cf. Eph. 5:22-31; Mark 13:33-36, cf. I Tim. 3:15).
2. The English word "church" is a translation of the Greek word "ekklesia", which means a called-out assembly. Jesus disciples were both called-out and assembling with Him before the day of Pentecost (e.g. Matt. 4:19; John 1:35ff).
3. Apostles were set in the church (I Cor. 12:28) before Pentecost (Matt.10:1,2; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:13).
4. Ordinances were instituted and observed before Pentecost (John 4:1,2; Matthew 26:26-30).
5. John the Baptist prepared a people ready for the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 1:17), not for the day of Pentecost. Mark 1:1ff. indicates the gospel age began with John's ministry.
6. The church was commissioned before Pentecost: first the limited commission of Matt. 10:1-4 and then the extended commission of Matt. 28:18-20.
7. Jesus sang in the church before Pentecost (Heb. 2:12; Matt. 26:30).
8. The last days refer to the church age, and the last days were in existence during Jesus' ministry (Heb. 1:2).
9. There was church discipline before the day of Pentecost (Matt. 18:17).
10. The church had a business meeting before Pentecost (Acts 1:15-26).
11. The Lord added to the church on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41-27), so there had to exist a church for people to have been added to it.
12. There is no reason to suppose that the church could not exist with her visible Head present. Nothing in scripture says the church was or had to be started on Pentecost.

* Possibly the one thing that isn't simple enough to suit everyone is that in this view there is some chronological time overlap of the Old and New Testaments/Covenants.

5 John Newton Quotes

Best known as the author of the hymn "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound," John Newton was a prolific writer with amazing output -- not only many other hymns, but also theology, journals, letters and sermons. Here is a small taste of other things that John Newton wrote.

"Though we say this world is vain and sinful, we are too fond of it; and though we hope for true happiness only in Heaven, we are often well content to stay longer here on earth. But the Lord sends afflictions one after another to quicken our desires, and to convince us that this world cannot be our rest. Sometimes if you drive a bird from one branch of a tree he will hop to another a little higher, and from thence to a third; but if you continue to disturb him, he will at last take wing, and fly quite away. Thus we, when forced from one creature-comfort, perch upon another, and so on. But the Lord mercifully follows us with trials, and will not let us rest upon any; by degrees our desires take a nobler flight, and can be satisfied with nothing short of Himself; and we say, 'To depart and be with Jesus is best of all!'"

"I allow that every branch of gospel truth is precious, that errors are abounding, and that it is our duty to bear an honest testimony to what the Lord has enabled us to find comfort in, and to instruct with meekness such as are willing to be instructed; but I cannot set it my duty, nay, I believe it would be my sin, to attempt to beat notions into other people’s heads."

"You say, ‘I have aimed to displease the Arminians’, I had rather you had aimed to be useful to them, than to displease them. There are many Arminians who are so only for want of clearer light. They fear the Lord, and walk humbly before him.  And as they go on, by an increasing acquaintance with their own hearts and the word of God, their objections and difficulties gradually subside.  And in the Lord’s time (for he is the only effectual teacher) they receive the doctrines of grace which they were once afraid of.  These individuals should not be displeased by our endeavouring to declare the truth in terms the most offensive to them which we can find, but we should rather seek out the softest and most winning way of encountering their prejudices. Otherwise we make a parade, and grow big with a sense of our own wisdom and importance, but we shall do little good. Our Lord you know taught his disciples as they were able to bear it, he did not aim to displease them thought it is pretty plain they had a good deal of the Arminian spirit in them for some time after they began to follow him. You will perhaps say, ‘An humble Arminian! Surely that is impossible.’ I believe it not more impossible to find a humble Arminian, than a proud and self-sufficient Calvinist. The doctrines of grace are humbling, that is in their power and experience, but a man may hold them all in the notion, and be very proud. He certainly is so, if he thinks his assenting to them is a proof of his humility, and despises others as proud and ignorant in comparison of himself.  I believe you mean well, but some things you have written against the Arminians manifest that you have not been aware of your own spirit. " (from a letter to John Ryland, Jr.)

"How highly does it become us, both as creatures and as sinners, to submit to the appointments of our Maker! and how necessary is it to our peace! This great attainment is too often unthought of and overlooked; we are prone to fix our attention upon the second causes and immediate instruments of events; forgetting whatever befalls us is according to his purpose, and therefore must be right and seasonable in itself, and shall in the issue be productive of good. From hence arise impatience, resentment, and secret repinings, which are not only sinful but tormenting; whereas if all things are in his hand, if the very hairs of our head are numbered, if every event, great and small are under the direction of his providence and purpose; and if he has a wise, holy, and gracious end in view, to which everything that happens is subordinate and subservient;- then we have nothing to do, but with patience and humility to follow as he leads, and cheerfully to expect a happy issue. The path of present duty is marked out; and the concerns of the next and every succeeding hour are in his hands. How happy are they who can resign all to him, see his hands in every dispensation, and believe that he chooses better for them then they possibly could for themselves!" (3 paragraphs in the original)

Christ crucified
1. When on the cross the Lord I see,
Bleeding to death for wretched me,
Satan and sin no more can move,
For I am all transformed to love.
2. His thorns and nails pierce through my heart,
In every groan I bear a part;
I view his wounds with streaming eyes;
But see, he bows his head and dies!
3. Come, sinners, view the Lamb of God,
Wounded, and dead, and bathed in blood!
Behold his side, and venture near,
The spring of endless life is here.
4. Here I forget my cares and pains;
I drink, yet still my thirst remains;
Only the fountain-head above,
Can satisfy the thirst of love.
5. Oh, that I thus could always feel,
Lord, more and more thy love reveal!
Then my glad tongue shall loud proclaim
The grace and glory of thy name.
6. Thy name dispels my guilt and fear,
Revives my heart, and charms my ear;
Affords a balm for every wound,
And Satan trembles at the sound.

5 Books for Further Reading
John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace, Jonathan Aitken, Crossway, 2007
Letters of John Newton, Selected by Josiah Bull, Banner of Truth, 2007
Olney Hymns: In Three Books, On Select Texts Of Scripture; On Occasional Subjects; On The Progress And Changes Of Spiritual Life, John Newton and William Cowper, 1779 (There are numerous reprints of Olney Hymns)
Out of the Depths: the Autobiography of John Newton, John Newton (1725--1807), edited by Dennis R. Hillman, Kregel Publications, 2003
Wise Counsel: John Newton’s Letters to John Ryland, Jr., edited by Grant Gordon, Banner of Truth, 2009

The Anvil of God's Word

...the word of the Lord endureth for ever... 1 Peter 1:25

Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith's door,
And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;
Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor
Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.
"How many anvils have you had," said I,
"To wear and batter all these hammers so?"
"Just one," said he, and then, with twinkling eye,
"The anvil wears the hammers out you know."
And so, thought I, the anvil of God's Word,
For ages skeptics blows have beat upon;
Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,
The anvil is unharmed--the hammers gone.

By John Clifford (apparently the English minister John Clifford, 1836-1923)

Criminal Minds Season 8 Episode 15

On Wednesday Feb 20, NBC aired the Criminal Minds* episode "Broken". It featured a homosexual serial killer suffering from an identity crisis. He loves men and cannot love women the way he feels he should. So he kills his sexual partners. Parallel to the plot is the condemnation of the horror of conversion therapy -- an effort to convert or change sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. "Broken" may not refer to the homosexual character, but to the fact that misguided therapy has ruined his psyche. There is an effort to blame the therapy rather than the serial killer, and in the end viewers may even be drawn into sympathetic association with the killer. FBI agents are mortified by the conversion camp and know it must be even more horrendous than they can even imagine. Finally they discover the ostensibly Christian camp uses physical abuse, drugs and forced heterosexual sex therapy as part of their conversion methods. One fan praised the episode for "shedding light on the darkness of so-called fix 'em camps." I expect such a camp is mostly Hollywood fantasy that produces more heat than light.

I am not a proponent of "conversion therapy". It sounds like just one more of the many shady psychiatric treatments that has been foisted on a gullible American people. On the other hand, the American Psychiatric Association promotes many vague and unnecessary psychiatric treatments, while condemning conversion therapy. Why? Because it is "based upon the a priori assumption that the patient should change his/her sexual homosexual orientation." There's the catch. It's not really the "conversion" they object to, but that they believe there is nothing wrong with homosexuality. It's still alright to analyze, therapize and convert alcoholics or fat people -- maybe even hoarders -- even if they were born that way, since society says these things are bad. (Pity the poor fat people; it's always OK to skewer them for any reason or no reason.)

Criminal Minds’ episode "Broken" is one example of the continual Hollywood bombardment against Christian moral beliefs. A belief is caricatured and the caricature then demolished. One down; another to go. Intellectually stimulating shows such as Criminal Minds probably do more damage than the mindless fodder of such offal as The Simpsons or Family Guy.

In keeping with the Bible and centuries of Christian moral teaching, I believe that homosexuality is a sin -- regardless of what Hollywood or the APA says. It is a sin of extra-marital sex and defilement of God's natural creation order (man & woman). Homosexuality is one of many sins perpetuated by depraved sinners. It is not the only sin. Conversion therapy is not the answer to that or any other sin. An experience with God and conversion by the Lord Jesus Christ is necessary for us all.

*Criminal Minds is a "procedural thriller about the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, which profiles criminals to solve crimes."

From Mohler to Hendricks to KJV translators

“The written word can do what the spoken word simply cannot do—sit flat on a page and demand attention.” -- Al Mohler

“People tell me they want to make the Bible relevant. Nonsense. The Bible’s already relevant. You’re the one that’s irrelevant!” -- Howard G. Hendricks

"It is amazing how much light the Bible shines on commentaries." -- Howard G. Hendricks

"The Scriptures we are commanded to search...If we be ignorant, they will instruct us; if out of the way, they will bring us home; if out of order, they will reform us; if in heaviness, comfort us; if dull, quicken us; if cold, inflame us. Tolle, lege; Tolle, lege, Take up and read, take up and read the Scriptures..." -- The King James translators, 1611

3 positives of the King James Bible, and a 4th

Many online writings that I have found in favor of the King James Bible are diatribes against modern Bible versions and offer little in the way of positive promotion of the KJV or helpful suggestions to the reader of the KJV. There is also a plethora of “anti-KJV” material readily available. In previous posts I have looked at the accuracy of the “ye’s & thou’s,” sought a little clarity on verb endings, and considered the use of archaic language. This post will be more generic praise of the positive attributes of the King James Bible.

The King James Bible is founded on historic texts. The Old Testament is from the Jacob ben Chayyim Masoretic Hebrew text. Jacob ben Chayyim, a Jewish Rabbi, published this text in 1524.[1]  This text is sound and comparable to other Hebrew texts. According to James D. Price, “The differences between the Bomberg Ben Chayyim edition and Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (the text used with most modern translations) are microscopic.”[2] Variations between translations more often are introduced from other sources, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Syriac Peshitta. The New Testament is from the Textus Receptus. According to Daniel B. Wallace, “when one examines the variations between the Greek text behind the KJV (the Textus Receptus) and the Greek text behind modern translations, it is discovered that the vast majority of variations are so trivial as to not even be translatable.”[3]   

The King James Bible is an accurate translation. Years ago I remember finding a book in Bible Book Store that trashed the KJV Bible as the worst translation ever. Those who write and repeat such nonsense must either have no clue what they are talking about or have an agenda of promoting some other Bible. Nevertheless, the translators who gave us the King James Bible were well qualified academically -- their language expertise and ability was exceptional. These translators believed in the inerrancy and authority of Scripture. This is recognized even by modern scholars who prefer other translations. Today there are over 5,600 Greek manuscripts preserved and available (fragments, uncials, cursives).[4] These provide greater support of the Textus Receptus/KJV readings. The major variations in modern translations arrive from the Codices Sinaiticus and Vaticanus.

The King James Bible follows a proven method. The method of the King James translators was verbal or formal equivalence (as opposed to dynamic equivalence).[5] Because of differences between original and receptor languages, all translations combine some degree of formal and dynamic equivalence.  But different versions may commit strongly to one over the other. A comparison of First Timothy 5:10 provides a good example of the difference of the two methods.

Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. [KJV, showing formal equivalence]

and have a reputation for good deeds: a woman who brought up her children well, received strangers in her home, performed humble duties for other Christians, helped people in trouble, and devoted herself to doing good. [Good News Translation, showing dynamic equivalence]

The Good News Translation is an apt example of preferring dynamic equivalence over a “word-for-word” translation. The Greek text contains the words for “wash” and “saints” and “feet” [ἁγίων πόδας ἔνιψεν] but the translators chose to follow what they believed was the intention rather than the actual words.

Some peripheral issues

The King James Bible is important to the English language. It was instrumental in standardizing the language. It also provides a common bond between its readers around the world. It underlies the meaning of many common things we say. It contributes a musical and poetic quality to our language (and contributes to the music and poetry of our language!). Much could be said along these lines which might be of interest. But these are more “niceties”; the larger concern is the Bible as the reliable word from God.

KJV Bible readers should not feel subordinate or inferior to the reader of modern Bible versions. They should not be embarrassed to ask for a KJV Bible when the book store clerk tries to shoo them on to something else. They have a reliable translation of the Word of God. It was reliable in its beginning and is still reliable today. They need to be diligent in study of the Word and have the Spirit of God to lead them into all truth.

---

[1] It is also known as the Daniel Bomberg edition or the Second Great Rabbinic Bible.

[2] Price, now retired, was Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at Temple Baptist Seminary, and executive editor of the Old Testament for the New King James Version (Thomas Nelson, 1982).

[3] Wallace is professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX. He also writes that “over 98% of the time, the Textus Receptus and the standard critical editions agree.”

[4] Norman Geisler & Peter Bocchino, Unshakable Foundations (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2001) p. 256

[5] Though language scholars may attach more nuanced or technical meaning at times, these terms are commonly used to mean a “word-for-word” translation (formal, translating the meanings of individual words and more or less in their syntactic sequence) versus a “sense-for-sense” translation (dynamic, translating the meanings of phrases and sentences).

Archaic words

One recurring complaint against the King James Bible is that is contains many archaic words. That is something of a misnomer. While many of these accused words may not be commonly spoken today, they are not “archaic” in the sense usually intended – no longer in use, obsolete or outmoded. They may be considered archaic in its definition “surviving chiefly in specialized uses.” These archaic words might be considered “in specialized use” but they are certainly and definitely used on a regular basis in English-speaking churches around the world where the King James Bible is read, studied and preached. And my “NEA Crossword Puzzle” expects me to know the meaning of words such as “anon” whether or not I use them in speech regularly!

A companion complaint to archaic words is the presence of words whose meanings have changed.* Daniel B. Wallace claims “300 words found in the KJV no longer bear the same meaning.” This is again something of a misnomer. Rather than the word no longer bearing the meaning used in the KJV, more likely is that its most common use is no longer the meaning most commonly used in the KJV. Wallace gives as examples “suffer” (permit) and “study” (be diligent). The meaning in the KJV may not be the first meaning moderns think of when they hear the word, but my Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary supports the changed meanings. Suffer means “to allow” (# 4) and study means “endeavor/try” (# 3) – substantially the same definitions given by Wallace which have “changed”. My modern dictionary even tells me that “prevent” means to “arrive before” or “go before” (Cf. I Thess. 4:15).

Words that do not mean what we expect them to mean cause us difficulty in reading and understanding the Bible. I do not ignore that; I have experienced that. But part of being diligent in studying the word of God is to study words and their meaning. This is true whether it is words in a Bible first printed in 1611 or a Bible that has just been translated and made available to the readers. It isn't hard to look up an old word in a good dictionary. All words we don’t understand need to be looked up in some dictionary!

The Oxford English Dictionary is a wonderful tool. It is the largest unabridged dictionary of the English language and especially helpful in ferreting out multiple and changing word meanings. Yet most good basic dictionaries will give definitions that correspond to the meanings of “archaic” words found in the King James Bible. In addition many Bibles have footnotes or marginal readings that are helpful, calling attention to archaic words or words whose meaning has changed.

Though Daniel Wallace and I will not agree on the best texts and best translations, I unreservedly agree when he writes, “The reason unspiritual people do not understand the scriptures is because they have a volitional problem, not an intellectual problem.” This is the first great problem of understanding the Scriptures, for they are spiritually discerned. Changing words may address a person’s intellectual problem, but it cannot address his or her spiritual problem!**

It is true that the King James Bible contains words that are not used much in everyday speech or that are not often used in the way the KJV uses them. It is not true that these must keep one from understanding the Bible. Rather than frighten the KJV reader (who wants to be a KJV reader) towards a modern translation, a valid option is to direct them toward the help they need.

* “Archaic” and “changed meaning” are two different issues, though they might seem one and the same without due consideration.

** Since each individual suffers from different language and knowledge difficulties, it is endlessly impossible to try to accomplish a fix with a new translation of the Bible. It would take a unique Bible for each individual. Rather than falling into this never ending cycle, better that many individuals work together to solve their problems from one common translation.

*** If we were to follow the train of thought used concerning the Bible – that something should not be written with words that some people cannot understand – we could not intelligently write or read much of anything.

Use of "-est" and "-eth" in the KJV

Many people, both friends and foes of the King James Bible, do not understand the use of "-est" and "-eth" verbs in the KJV. Yet how often do we spend time to help those who are trying to read and understand it? The verb forms of the KJV are in simple and consistent pattern. The 2nd person and 3rd person singular verb endings are different than what we encounter in modern writings. What do they mean?

• The –st endings are used with the 2nd person singular (thou). E.g., “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness...” (Psalm 45:7).

• The –th endings are used with the 3rd person singular (he/she/it). E.g., “For he that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life...” (John 12:25).

• The 1st person singular (I), and plural pronouns (we/ye/they) use the same endings as modern English forms:

  E.g. “Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.” (2 Cor. 11:11)

  E.g. “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

  E.g. “...they love him that speaketh right.” (Proverbs 16:13)

Verbs: Use of "-est" and "-eth" in the KJV
Person		Singular	Plural	Example
1st	I	n/a	n/a	I love
	We	n/a	n/a	We love
2nd	Thou	-est	n/a	Thou lovest
	Ye	n/a	n/a	Ye love
3rd	He/She/It	- eth	n/a	He loveth
	They	n/a	n/a	They love

Unlike the “ye/thou” differences, the "-est" and "-eth" endings do not provide more accuracy to the text. It is simply a matter of understanding grammar and the verb conjugation if you are reading the KJV. I have not examined every verb. Knowing that the English language is a language full of irregular verbs and exceptions to rules, I would caution that you may run across some exceptions to the above “rule”.

[Note 1.: Some have made claims that the "-est" and "-eth" suffixes on verbs signify continual action (Greek “perfect tense”) as opposed to one-time action (Greek “aorist tense”). In fact these tenses in the Greek language are absent in the English language. So in this case there is no distinction or difference of meaning between early modern English (he loveth) and modern English (he loves). Following an erroneous explanation for the -est and -eth endings could lead one into errors of interpretation.]
[Note 2. (added 05/2022): A reader pointed out the "-edst" ending on some verbs. Examples of this can be found in Genesis 31:13 (“anointedst” and “vowedst”), Genesis 49:4 (“defiledst”), John 21:18 (“girdedst” and “walkedst”), and Hebrews 2:7 (“crownedst”). This verse also has “didst”, which is a variant. According to “The Kings Bible” advanced search results, 74 Bible verses have words with this "-edst" ending (sometimes more than once in the verse). The "-edst" ending is found with the second person singular verb when it is past tense. It matches with the “thou” pronoun. It is found on words that end in "-ed" and have "-st" added.]

Why the Ye’s and Thou’s

Back in Jan-Feb 1992, I reprinted in The Baptist Waymark an article from the Plains Baptist Challenger by Bruce Cummons about the use of thee, thou, ye and you. In it Cummons noted that “One of the most criticized characteristics of the King James translation of the Bible” – the use of old English pronouns thee, thou, thy, and ye – is actually “one of the strongest points of the Authorized Version.”

Whether friend or foe, many do not know what to make of such “thee” and “ye” terminology. Unlike modern English, in the original languages of the Old and New Testaments second-person singular and the second-person plural pronouns* are distinguished. Today we do not distinguish them, so that when we speak or write in singular or plural, we choose the word “you.” 

“Where are you going?” Without context we cannot know whether this question is asked of one or many. However, Cummons notes, “in old English there exists a difference just as there is in Greek and Hebrew. As a result the old English used in the King James Version gives far more precise translation than would modern English. In our King James Bible, thee, thou, thy and thine are always singular. You, ye, and your are always plural.”

He follows this with a helpful rule: “If the second person pronoun starts with a “t” (in the English translation), then it is singular. If it starts with a “y”, it is plural. This information helps us to better interpret God’s Word. The thee’s and the ye’s are used also for accuracy and directness of translation...”

It is further worth noting that the words are used based on whether they are nominative, objective or possessive. For example, “ye” is used when it is the subject of the sentence, and “you” is used when the object. Other examples and a chart: 
“Thou art the man” – “thou” is the subject of the sentence.
“What is that to thee?” – “thee” is the object of a preposition.

Use of pronouns in the KJV
Person		Nom.	Obj.	Poss.
1st	singular	I	Me	My (or mine)
	plural	We	Us	Our (or ours)
2nd	singular	Thou	Thee	Thy (or thine)
	plural	Ye	You	Your (or yours)
3rd	singular	He/She/It	Him/Her/It	His/Hers/Its
	plural	They	Them	Their (or theirs)

[Note: I have heard some claim that one of the differences is between “familiar” as opposed to “formal” – as “tu” and “usted” in Spanish. I have found no basis for this claim and it would certainly obscure one’s understanding when reading the King James Version of the Bible. Because of this familiar versus formal dichotomy, some modern translations keep “thee” and “thou” when addressing God and “you” when addressing human beings. This is not based on the original, and is not a correct translation (and causes confusion). I have also read that by the time of the KJV translation in 1611, these singular forms of “thee” and “thou” had already been replaced in conversation by “you” – meaning the KJV translators chose to be “archaic” in order to preserve the singular or plural of the original languages. I cannot verify that, but do notice that in their “To the Reader” the translators seem to use “thee” as singular and “you” as plural.]

In speaking to God in Psalms 51:17, David uses “thou” – “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Cf. also Psalms 63:1 – “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;”

*Pronouns are words that stand in place of nouns. The person or persons TO WHOM the speaker is speaking is called second person (singular or plural based on how many).

11 Baptist history blogs

The blogs linked below are written and/or maintained by folks who are interested in Baptist history. In some cases they write about other things as well. If anyone knows of other blogs that are primarily related to Baptist history, let me know and I will link them as well.

The posting of web links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the viewpoints of the posts linked.

A Baptist Perspective
Baptist History and Doctrine
Baptist History and Thought
Christian Thought and Tradition
Historia ecclesiastica
James1948's Blog
Praisegod Barebones
SBC Heritage
Tennessee Baptist Historical Society
Thoughts of a Pastor Historian
Working out Salvation with Fear and Trembling

Quotable quotes

"You can't back up on a freeway." -- James Dobson, referring to the impossibility of going back to "the way things were."

"Some are Microwave Christians - 30 seconds and they’re done." -- unknown

God placed Psalm 35 in His spiritual medicine chest for the times when the enemy seeks to destroy us. -- Kirby Hill (Not an exact quote, but paraphrased from his radio program)

"Begin with the end in mind." -- Stephen R. Covey

"There is a Holy Spirit and I am not him. It is my job to speak truth but not my job to convince others of it." -- Henry Blackaby

"There is only one Hero in the Church, and it is not the preacher." -- Matt Chandler, Josh Patterson, Eric Geiger in Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church

"Flimsy sermons will create a flimsy flock." -- Matt Chandler, Josh Patterson, Eric Geiger in Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church

"God doesn't believe in atheists." -- Ray Comfort